Frazz by Jef Mallett for September 07, 2021

How about, “What I wish I had done last summer?”

I preferred essay questions (and math proofs) to multiple guess or fill in the blank. But for some reason, most teachers seemed to prefer the latter two. Except for Miss Snodgrass… who had no life outside school, seems like.

20 page essay? More like 20 words.

I sat around all summer! What else do you think I could do? Go on vacation or to a party?

Gotta agree with Mrs. Olsen. Might be some hard reading. However, she might survive if she limits the subject to 2 pages describing the most fun thing you did this summer. That variety could prove spread a little joy in itself and give other kids some new things to try.

i used to do that, found out last day of school after 8th grade, the teachers would pass them around to each other

Yes what yet another long strange summer it was and will be. Lol.

I remember a college course I had on comparative religions. Our final exercise was to submit an essay of at least 8 pages on any religious subject we wanted. As a long-time science-fiction fan, I figured I’d put down all my musings on how 2001: A Space Odyssey had been influenced by Zoroastrianism. By the time I was done, it ran to 83 pages, including a 2-page bibliography. (I’d been musing on it for quite awhile.) It didn’t dawn on me that the prof might have resented it.

Has that ever really been assigned anywhere? I went to several different grade schools in three states and never had that assignment.

A bunch of 20-page essays by 3rd graders is truly a frightening prospect. Even if they could all spell.